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Filed: Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted

Having only just got engaged, I am rather new to this game so would appreciate any advice you could offer.

During an international work assignment 2 years ago (whilst on a J1 training visa) I met Kelly. We quickly became friends and our relationship blossomed. I recently asked Kelly to marry me and she said yes! Kelly is an American citizen and if you can’t gather, I’m British!

We would ideally like to marry in her home town of Zionsville IN, then move back to the UK to settle. Reading through various posts, I understand I will need a K1 visa to enter the States and the basic process for this.

Has anyone on this forum married in the USA and soon after moved to the UK?

How long before the wedding should Kelly start the petition process for my K1 visa?

Does anyone know the process after we are married? – Of course I wish to arrange a honeymoon, but of more importance is ensuring Kelly can come to the UK straight away and work. Luckily her company is letting her transfer offices – don’t want any issues in her being able to start her new life in Blighty.

Any help / advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

James

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted

Hi James,

There is no answer to how long it will take for a K1. If you look at the timelines at the top of the page you will get a good idea although your indivdual case may take less or lore time. You will not be able to plan on a wedding date to be relied unpon becasue it is so unpredictable. In my opinion it is a lot of time (maybe 4,5,6months+) effort (patientce and heartache) and money (at least £300) to be wasted if you apply for the K1 just to leave again.

Not to mention if you want to bring Kelly here to the UK you will need to go through the whole preocess again. We have a fiancee visa or a spose visa to be arranged too.

I'm sorry i can't be more specific, im not really in the same boat as you but i would say have a read through the timelines and guides on here. Refer the websites of the US and UK embassies and maybe try a post in the UK dedicated forum to see if anyone else knows more.

J

K1 VISA

05/10/2006 Sent I-129f

05/20/2006 NO1

07/25/2006 Case Approved (81 days)

08/10/2006 Packet 3 Arrives!!

10/02/2006 Interview: Approved!!

10/06/2006 Visa in Hand

10/11/2006 Left UK

10/23/2006 Got Married!

AOS

11/18/2006 Filed

11/28/2006 NO1

12/15/2006 Biometrics

01/22/2007 Approved

01/29/2007 Green card in hand

EAD

11/18/2006 Filed

11/28/2006 NO1

12/15/2006 Biometrics

02/06/2007 Approved (Waste of money but might have been worth it!)

AP

Didn't bother

Done for two years hooray!!!

Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Scotland
Timeline
Posted

You should not need a K1 visa if you do not intend to live in the USA after the wedding. A friend of mine recently went into Texas on a visa waiver for his wedding (with evidence of his planned return ot the UK) and they were both back in the UK 2 weeks later.

I would suggest exploring this option as it is A LOT easier!!!!!

K1 Application

23 Feb 2006 - I-129 mailed

14 August 2006 - Approved!!!! :-)

21 October 2006 - Married in the mountains of North Carolina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AOS Application

6 November 2006 - Applied for AOS, EAD and AP

09 Decemeber 2006 - e-mail received to say case was trasferred to California

16 December 2006- biometric appointment in Charlotte, NC

20 Jan 2007 -AP approved

24 Jan -EAD approved

28 June -Green card ordered

7 July wedding celebrations in Scotland

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
Posted
Having only just got engaged, I am rather new to this game so would appreciate any advice you could offer.

During an international work assignment 2 years ago (whilst on a J1 training visa) I met Kelly. We quickly became friends and our relationship blossomed. I recently asked Kelly to marry me and she said yes! Kelly is an American citizen and if you can’t gather, I’m British!

We would ideally like to marry in her home town of Zionsville IN, then move back to the UK to settle. Reading through various posts, I understand I will need a K1 visa to enter the States and the basic process for this.

Has anyone on this forum married in the USA and soon after moved to the UK?

How long before the wedding should Kelly start the petition process for my K1 visa?

Does anyone know the process after we are married? – Of course I wish to arrange a honeymoon, but of more importance is ensuring Kelly can come to the UK straight away and work. Luckily her company is letting her transfer offices – don’t want any issues in her being able to start her new life in Blighty.

Any help / advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

James

Hi James,

If you do not intend to settle in the US, you do not need a K-1 visa.

You can enter on the Visa Waiver program and get married; as long as you intend to leave within 90 days like any other visitor.

Your wife can then apply for a UK spousal visa. This is MUCH easier than getting a US visa! She can come to the UK straight away and it allows her to work, entitles her to NHS benefits, etc.; if you are able to apply in-person she can have the visa on the same day, if not, it takes a week or two. CHeck out www.uk-yankee.com for more detailed info on Uk visas.

Posted

First of all, congrats. I have two friends who JUST got married here then she applied for a UK Spousal visa and got it (by mail - I know Gwen went herself and got it that day) in 5 DAYS. That's amazing considering what we're all going thru here.

Here fiance flew here from Newcastle, came into Michigan for a week then they both flew to Jamaica for their elopement then BACK into the US where he stayed for another week. So technically he entered the country twice, once with the POE in Detroit and once with it in Miami. He was just fine, they just asked to see his return ticket home.

Good luck and congrats again!

And so he did what countless punk-rock songs had told him to do so many times before: he lived his life

10/07/2006 WEDDING DAY!

11/14/2006 AOS packet made it to 'the box' after being overnighted.

12/02/2006 Paul had biometrics

12/14/2006 AOS Forwarded to CSC AND AP Application approved.

01/17/2007 First touch of 2007 at CSC

01/20/2007 Touched AGAIN (also the 18th) come on...

February: Oops, RFE for a REGISTERED marriage certificate. Oops! Overnighted it.

02/28/2007 Paul gets email letting us know his GREENCARD is on it's way! It's done...for now!

03/09/2007 Paul's greencard arrives. And breathe...

We began with mailing the I-129 in on February 27, 2006 so the whole process took us approx. one year.

Good luck out there!

See PCRADDY for our official timeline.

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: England
Timeline
Posted

http://www.uk-yankee.com and http://www.americanexpats.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl are both sites geared to Americans living in the UK. They would probably be much more help to you.

As everyone else has said, you can come here to visit, get married, then get her visa to the UK sorted rather quickly. I just wouldn't mention the marriage when coming into the US unless specifically asked. Remember, never lie to immigration officers, but don't offer more information than asked for. Saying you're coming here to get married may have them thinking you're looking to settle here and they might send you packing. You're coming on holiday.

britishmensig-4_zps4475e6b2.jpg

Filed: Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted

This is great news! A scrawl through the US Embassy website confimed what you have all told me>

We only wish to travel to the United States to marry.

We will return to the United Kingdom after marriage. Do we still need a fiancé(e) visa?

A person traveling to the United States to marry a U.S. citizen with the intention of returning to his/her place of permanent residence abroad may apply for a visitor (B-2) visa, or if eligible, travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. Evidence of a residence abroad to which the B-2 visa holder or visa free traveler intends returning should be carried for presentation to an immigration inspector at the port of entry.

Essentially we can plan a normal wedding in the USA. Only worry will be to ensure Kelly gets her UK visa.. Will certainly be making an appointment in person! Luckily it seems this can be done in Chicago - a mere 3 hours from Zionsville by car!

Thank you all for you help and congratulations.

James

Posted

You don't need a fiance visa. Congratulations!

8-30-05 Met David at a restaurant in Germany

3-28-06 David 'officially' proposed

4-26-06 I-129F mailed

9-25-06 Interview: APPROVED!

10-16-06 Flt to US, POE Detroit

11-5-06 Married

7-2-07 Green card received

9-12-08 Filed for divorce

12-5-08 Court hearing - divorce final

A great marriage is not when the "perfect couple" comes together.

It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.

Posted
During an international work assignment 2 years ago (whilst on a J1 training visa)

James Paul, the only comment I have to make is with regards to your J1 visa, I believe that once you have served your 2 years training, you are subject to a 2 year foreign residency requirement. You will probably come across issues if you try to get back in to the US.

Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement

An exchange visitor is subject to INA 212(e) requirement, if the following conditions exist:

The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the United States government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;

The exchange visitor is a national or resident of a country designated as requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program (Exchange Visitor Skills List 9 FAM 41.62, Exhibit II);

The exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training.

source

I'm not 100% sure about the J1 visa as I've not had any experience with it, I would definately research the 2 year residency thing more before departing for your wedding. Good luck with your journey.

-10/02/06 The beginning of the rest of our lives together!!!

-11/03/06 Our wedding day!!!

AOS Timeline

-03/05/06 NOA 1 For AOS, EAD & AP

-13/05/06 All applications touched

-05/06/06 Letter recieved from USCIS Appointment date set for Biometrics

-21/06/06 Biometrics apptointment

-24/06/06 EAD and AOS Touched

-29/06/06 AP e-mail approval

-02/07/06 EAD Touched

-03/07/06 EAD e-mail approval (61 days)

-08/07/06 Recived AP doccuments

-10/07/06 EAD Arrives!!! Hooray

-15/07/06 USCIS letter recieved for AOS interview date

-22/08/06 AOS interview

-22/08/06 AOS Approved at interview (111 days)

-22/08/06 E-mails from USCIS Confirming AOS approval

-02/09/06 Condtional green card recieved in the mail!!!

-28/05/08 Mailed I-175 Petition to remove conditions

-02/06/08 Application recieved at CA!

-27/06/08 Biometrics

-15/08/08 Green Card recieved, good till 2018!!!

Note: Dates are in UK format because I'm (still) stubborn!!!

Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Scotland
Timeline
Posted

I do not think the Ji two year rule applies to a visa wiaver. You are not allowed to apply for another visa for 2 years after J1 finishes but visa waiver is just that - it waives the need for a visa.

Check it out but you should be fine!!

K1 Application

23 Feb 2006 - I-129 mailed

14 August 2006 - Approved!!!! :-)

21 October 2006 - Married in the mountains of North Carolina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AOS Application

6 November 2006 - Applied for AOS, EAD and AP

09 Decemeber 2006 - e-mail received to say case was trasferred to California

16 December 2006- biometric appointment in Charlotte, NC

20 Jan 2007 -AP approved

24 Jan -EAD approved

28 June -Green card ordered

7 July wedding celebrations in Scotland

Posted
I do not think the Ji two year rule applies to a visa wiaver. You are not allowed to apply for another visa for 2 years after J1 finishes but visa waiver is just that - it waives the need for a visa.

Check it out but you should be fine!!

Thanks for clearing that up globetrotter!

Hi,

I have been back in the UK just over 2 years since my assignment in the US so I guess if this was a concern, my time is up! Been back to the states countless times with visa waiver since.

Cheers

James

Ah brilliant thats cool! Looks like you're all set to go! Good luck with researching the process for England!

-10/02/06 The beginning of the rest of our lives together!!!

-11/03/06 Our wedding day!!!

AOS Timeline

-03/05/06 NOA 1 For AOS, EAD & AP

-13/05/06 All applications touched

-05/06/06 Letter recieved from USCIS Appointment date set for Biometrics

-21/06/06 Biometrics apptointment

-24/06/06 EAD and AOS Touched

-29/06/06 AP e-mail approval

-02/07/06 EAD Touched

-03/07/06 EAD e-mail approval (61 days)

-08/07/06 Recived AP doccuments

-10/07/06 EAD Arrives!!! Hooray

-15/07/06 USCIS letter recieved for AOS interview date

-22/08/06 AOS interview

-22/08/06 AOS Approved at interview (111 days)

-22/08/06 E-mails from USCIS Confirming AOS approval

-02/09/06 Condtional green card recieved in the mail!!!

-28/05/08 Mailed I-175 Petition to remove conditions

-02/06/08 Application recieved at CA!

-27/06/08 Biometrics

-15/08/08 Green Card recieved, good till 2018!!!

Note: Dates are in UK format because I'm (still) stubborn!!!

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
Posted
During an international work assignment 2 years ago (whilst on a J1 training visa)

James Paul, the only comment I have to make is with regards to your J1 visa, I believe that once you have served your 2 years training, you are subject to a 2 year foreign residency requirement. You will probably come across issues if you try to get back in to the US.

Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement

An exchange visitor is subject to INA 212(e) requirement, if the following conditions exist:

The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the United States government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;

The exchange visitor is a national or resident of a country designated as requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program (Exchange Visitor Skills List 9 FAM 41.62, Exhibit II);

The exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training.

source

I'm not 100% sure about the J1 visa as I've not had any experience with it, I would definately research the 2 year residency thing more before departing for your wedding. Good luck with your journey.

IIRC, this only applies to residents of certain countries (mostly developing nations) and the UK isn't one of them anyway.

Posted
You should not need a K1 visa if you do not intend to live in the USA after the wedding. A friend of mine recently went into Texas on a visa waiver for his wedding (with evidence of his planned return ot the UK) and they were both back in the UK 2 weeks later.

I would suggest exploring this option as it is A LOT easier!!!!!

I agree. If you are not planning to live in the US, you don't need a fiance visa--but the USC will need papers to immigrate to the UK.

Filed: Timeline
Posted
Luckily it seems this can be done in Chicago - a mere 3 hours from Zionsville by car!

You ever actually driven to Chicago? Distance-wise it's about 3 hours. Time-wise, it's more like 5-6, depending on what time of day you go, where you're actually going, and if there's a baseball game that day. LOL

Why are you guys going to go back to the UK? Zionsville is a cool town, and you could sell a house in the UK and buy 4 of them in Zionsville! LOL

Lady, people aren't chocolates. Do you know what they are mostly? Bastards. ####### coated bastards with ####### filling. But I don't find them half as annoying as I find naive bobble-headed optimists who walk around vomiting sunshine.
 
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